Gratitude.

Yesterday a client of mine had her first ever triathlon in Naperville.  10 weeks ago I gave her a training plan and we got to work to get her ready.   She was scared, she was nervous and there were a couple times that she asked me “do you really think I can do this?”.  Now, let me tell you something about Jackie.  I have mentioned her before, she is nothing short of inspirational.  She has overcome so much struggle in her life yet you would never guess that when you spend time with her.  She is an eternal lover of life and her successful career, family and personal life is a result of her ambition and positive attitude.

This race was not just a triathlon, it represented yet again that she cannot be held down when she sets her mind to something.  This particular race is also associated with Team Hope, which is an organization that raises money for Cancer research.  Jackie is a two time cancer- survivor so as you can imagine, this race also represented much more.

Right before the swim start, a young lady whom was a four time survivor of pharyngeal cancer and laryngeal cancer geared up to sing one the most beautiful national anthems I have ever heard.  Keep in mind, someone once told her that she would never sing again.  Boy did she prove them wrong.  As I was listening to her beautiful voice, thinking about all that she has overcome to get here and thinking about my own family members that I have lost to Cancer- I cried tears of sorrow but also of thankfulness.  I then looked over in that moment to see Jackie and all the other women in the Cancer Survivor wave (they all donned pretty purple swim caps) despite not knowing one another, they all linked arms and cried during the majority of the anthem.  I will not pretend to know what it is like to have Cancer, so I can only speculate what was going through their heads in that moment.  My best guess is that they were probably crying tears for all those years of struggle, tears of fear that it might come back but most of all tears of gratitude.  Gratitude that they were here, that God gave them another breath.  And now they were going to use that breath by challenging themselves in a triathlon.  I felt so honored to be able to witness that moment, to see the true image of what gratitude looks like.  

This life is a gift, friends.  A privilege.  The more thankful you are for it, the opportunities will come your way, sometimes out of thin air. If you are constantly consumed by what you don’t have, you will continue to never have enough.   Every single one of you has something to be thankful for.  EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.  Are you reading this blog?  You have sight.  You have the ability to read.  You have the breath of life.  The breath that is taken away from so many when they are not ready.    I cannot even describe the kind of amazing things that will happen to you when you live a life of gratitude.  When you stop wanting, comparing & lusting.  You have everything you need, right here, right now, in this moment.